ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

EP 278: Author Allison Larkin on 'The People We Keep' and Thriving with ADHD

May 1, 2024

Bestselling author Allison Larkin discusses how ADHD has enhanced her writing career. She shares insights on embracing creativity, authentic storytelling, and finding supportive writing communities. The conversation explores personal storytelling, overcoming industry standards, and managing ADHD traits for success.

53:27

Episode guests

Allison Larkin

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Highlights

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

ADHD can enhance creativity by embracing unique cognitive styles.

Storytelling helps process emotions and find meaning in personal experiences.

Building a supportive creative community fosters positive environment and growth.

Deep dives

Alison Larkin's Journey with Writing and Neurodivergence

Alison Larkin shares her journey of writing, highlighting her unique blend of creativity and neurodivergence. She discusses her evolution from writing light-hearted rom-coms to a more intense novel like 'The People We Keep,' revealing how her personal experiences shaped the deeper themes expressed in her work.

Persist in Your Vision

01:31

Nurturing Creativity through Community Support

01:10

Selective Attention and Hyperactivity in ADHD

01:15

Intro

4min

Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance with ADHD

12min

Challenges and Joys of Writing and Publishing

19min

The Importance of Authentic Writing and Supportive Communities

10min

Navigating Personal Storytelling and Publishing Industry Standards

2min

Recognizing Differences, Embracing Individuality, and Managing ADHD Traits

4min

Navigating Writing Software and Organization Tools

3min

Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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What makes us different can be the very thing that makes us shine. For writers with ADHD, navigating the creative process is both a challenge and a fascinating opportunity. Bestselling author Allison Larkin has turned the unique challenges of ADHD into the fertile ground from which her successful writing career has blossomed. Join us as we explore Allison’s journey from facing academic struggles in an unsupportive environment to discovering her passion for storytelling—a powerful expression of her true potential. Her experiences demonstrate how ADHD's perceived limitations can actually enhance creativity.

Allison’s story is not just about accepting neurodiversity but celebrating it, showing that authenticity fosters the deepest connections and the most impactful work.

Allison Larkin is the acclaimed author of novels such as Stay, Why Can’t I Be You, Swimming for Sunlight, and The People We Keep. Her stories and essays have appeared in publications like the Summerset Review and Slice, as well as in anthologies such as I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship and Author in Progress. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Jeremy, and their rescue dog, Roxy, Allison was diagnosed with ADHD at 19. She didn’t start writing until her mid-twenties when she discovered how to channel her unique thought processes into storytelling. Now, she considers her ADHD her biggest asset in her writing career and is passionate about helping others harness their creativity.

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